Alfonso Davis

One Syracuse mayoral candidate has a vision for the city’s west side to address poverty and improve education. Syracuse native Alfonso Davis is seeking the Democratic Party nomination. Davis has made a priority of easing socio-economic troubles in poorer neighborhoods, coming from poverty himself. He empathizes with frustrations people on the west side might feel.

The race for Syracuse mayor officially got underway Friday with an announcement from the first candidate to publicly declare his intentions. Alfonso Davis is hoping the third time’s the charm to win the democratic nomination. He tried unsuccessfully in 2009 and in 2013 to secure his spot in the primaries, losing both times to Stephanie Miner. With miner out of the picture this time around due to term limits, Davis says he won’t settle for what he calls “business as usual.”

A Syracuse University political science expert says the maneuvering by Onondaga County Republicans to keep a ballot line open in November without naming a candidate could work for and against the party.

Professor Grant Reeher of the Maxwell School of Citizenship says it is a bit unusual, and could also be risky: